We designed this page in order to set up a network of like-minded individuals, who seek to learn more about current and past examples of oppression across all races and genders, personal resistance to it, and local/global solutions. -Sincerely, The Professional Revolutionists

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Congress Sells Us Out

Save The Net - Congress Sells Out The American PublicBy Robert W. McChesney President - Free Press4-21-6

Congress is about to sell out the Internet by letting big phone and cable companies set up toll booths along the information superhighway.

Companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are spending tens of millions in Washington to kill "network neutrality" -- a principle that keeps the Internet open to all.

A bill moving quickly through Congress would let these companies become Internet gatekeepers, deciding which Web sites go fast or slow -- and which won't load at all -- based on who pays them more. The rest of us will be detoured to the "slow lane," clicking furiously and waiting for our favorite sites to download.

After accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from big telecom firms, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) is sponsoring a bill to hand over the Internet to these same companies. He's not alone.

Our elected representatives are trading favors for campaign donations from phone and cable companies. They're being wooed by people like AT&T's CEO, who says "the Internet can't be free" and wants to decide what you do, where you go and what you watch online.

The best ideas never come from those with the deepest pockets. If the phone and cable companies get their way, the free and open Internet could soon be fenced in by large corporations. If Congress turns the Internet over to giants like AT&T, everyone who uses the Internet will suffer:

* *Google users* -- Another search engine could pay AT&T to guarantee that it opens faster than Google on your computer.

* *iPod listeners* -- Comcast could slow access to iTunes, steering you to a higher-priced music service that paid for the privilege.

* *Work-at-home parents* -- Connecting to your office could take longer if you don't purchase your carrier's preferred applications. Sending family photos and videos could slow to a crawl.

* *Retirees* -- Web pages you always use for online banking, access to health care information, planning a trip or communicating with friends and family could fall victim to Verizon's pay-for-speed schemes.

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Symbolism

This ancient Mayan symbol is called the Galactic Butterfly which is said to represent all of the consciousness that has ever existed in this galaxy. It is a symbol of unity which connects people regardless of distance, events, or time. Feel free to share this image :)